David Rodeback on Faith, Religion, and Scripture

Here’s the beginning of my latest post about faith, religion, and/or scripture, with a link to the rest of it. Below it you’ll find everything else, arranged in these categories: Faith, Inspiration, and Discipleship; Explaining the Mormons (Latter-day Saints); and Exploring Scripture. If you like something you read, please click the Like button below it. If you don’t, don’t.

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The Latest

He Was Something: A Tribute

I went to a funeral this week. I was about to tell you where, because it matters, but it seems to matter more that it could have been many places other than the place where it was. It could have been almost anywhere. It was something.

In the foyer of the church were tables displaying artifacts of my uncle’s life. There was his army uniform, a simple, coarse garment with corporal’s stripes and a single short row of campaign ribbons. There was a small, thick binder full of cartoons he clipped from newspapers over the years. There were photos from every phase of his long life. My favorite had my mom in it, with the rest of the siblings and my grandparents. She’s been gone twenty years now, and the photo was from a time before I knew her.

I should probably tell you his name, and I will at the end. But for now it seems important that the man I’m describing could have many names, including the name of someone near you.

Everything Else

Click or tap the heading of your choice to see articles in that category.

Faith, Inspiration, and Discipleship
Reuben Harold Babcock - He Was Something

He Was Something: A Tribute

I went to a man’s funeral this week. He died shortly after his 94th birthday. Was he a man-out-of time? Are we a time out of men?

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bright star in night sky - christmas reflections

“A Light to Lighten the Gentiles”: Christmas Reflections

Christmas reflections on the Light, the Life, the Truth, the Way — and why I think even secular Christmas celebrations can have some sacred effects.

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cross at sunset - celebrate Easter

Ten Ways to Celebrate Easter (Alone or Together)

Christmas looms large on the Christian calendar, but I’ve long thought that Easter should loom larger. There is no greater cause for celebration in all of earthly Christianity than the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So let’s celebrate Easter!

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Raphael’s Sistine Madonna, My Two Favorite Authors, and Mother’s Day

My two favorite authors, Fyodor Dostoevsky and Vasily Grossman, treasured Raphael’s Sistine Madonna from different perspectives. What that has to do with Mother’s Day …

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Abide with Me

“I triumph still, if Thou abide with Me” (a reflection)

One of the unsung joys of Christian worship — there may be a pun there, alas — is encountering verses…

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Christmas

Two Kinds of Christmas, Both Good (an essay)

Here we are, in the shortest days and longest nights of the year. It’s cold and getting colder — a…

1 comment
thou-lord-poem

Thou, Lord (a poem)

For Max Olsen (1930-2020)** Thou, Lord, who groaned in agonyWhen darkness ruled GethsemaneAnd daylight mocked on Calvary,Whose perfect gift has…

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Mount Timpanogos Temple

For Latter-day Saints, the Temple Is for Life Outside the Temple (an essay)

These thoughts are primarily for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who generally understand what we…

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faith amid doubt

Faith Amid Doubt (an essay)

The presence of doubt does not require the absence of faith, only faith’s imperfection. We mortals typically act in faith despite our doubt, not because we have no doubt. If we doubted less, perhaps we would need less faith.

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“Fit Us for Heaven” (Thoughts on a Christmas Afternoon)

I’ve been thinking a lot about music during this Christmas season. Bits of text more than whole songs have had me pondering. I’ve long appreciated Christmas hymns which celebrate but also look beyond the (mostly) sweet story of the Savior’s birth.

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Welcome to Utah sign

Neighbors, Strangers, Pilgrims, Friends

When we truly welcome others into our towns and neighborhoods – and homes, hearts, and circles of friends – we’re not just being nice. We’re obeying two key commandments. Both are literally as old as Moses.

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Easter flowers

One Savior, Four Gifts (Easter Thoughts)

Four immeasurable gifts give meaning and permanence to all other good things in our lives. They open our eyes to the great human and natural beauty which surrounds us. They steady us when we stumble and lift us when we fall. … They bear sure witness of a time beyond time, when all that is good will continue, and all that is not will fall away.

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Explaining the Mormons (Latter-day Saints)

General Conference and My Obedience

How much of what I hear in conference — or in other church meetings, or read in the official writings of Church leaders — am I required to obey, as a committed Latter-day Saint? Am I permitted to employ my own reason and inspiration to choose the counsel which applies to me, adapt it to my circumstances, and ignore the rest, or is that too much like selective obedience, which is a lot like disobedience? How nearly does counsel given by church leaders approach the status of scripture? Is counsel the same as commandment?

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What Mormons Mean: Translating General Conference (into English)

Every church or religion has its own vocabulary, which can easily make its meetings seem strange to outsiders. Latter-day Saints (Mormons) are no exception. We even think friendship is a verb; the ripples from this barbarous pebble are sometimes conspicuous. It’s a good thing the Lord is merciful. He gives us excellent, beautiful languages, and we insist on . . . But I digress.

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What Mormons Mean: “The Church Is True”

If you spend any time in church-related settings with Mormons — members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — it won’t be long before you hear the words, “I know the Church is true.” What do we mean when we say our Church is true? What don’t we mean? Should you be offended, if you’re not a Mormon?

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Exploring Scripture
Carl Bloch - Jesus Turning Water to Wine

Reading the New Testament (Week 6)

This week’s reading is John 2-4. Jesus attends a wedding at Cana in Galilee, goes briefly to Capernaum, then heads south to Jerusalem for Passover, after which he preaches in Judea and briefly in Samaria on his way back to Galilee to preach.

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Reading the New Testament (Week 5)

This week’s readings are Matthew 4 and Luke 4 and 5. They include Jesus’ temptations in the desert and his early preaching and miracles in Galilee, and Peter walking on the water.

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Reading the New Testament (Week 4)

This week’s readings are Matthew 3, Mark 1, and Luke 3. John the Baptist preaches, baptizes Jesus, and is cast into prison. Jesus begins to preach in Galilee; calls Simon Peter, James, and John to follow him; and heals many including Simon Peter’s wife.

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reading scripture

Reading the New Testament (Week 3)

This week’s reading is John 1. John speaks of the Word made flesh, answers the Pharisees’ questions about his own identity, and baptizes Jesus. Jesus invites Philip to follow him and praises Nathanael as a guileless Israelite.

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King James Version LDS edition footnotes

Reading the New Testament (Week 2)

This week’s readings are Luke 2 and Matthew 2, which recount the birth of Jesus, the visits of the shephers and the wise men, Herod’s slaughter of the innocents, and the holy family’s flight to Egypt and eventual return to Nazareth.

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Reading the New Testament (Week 1)

Mary speaks of prophecy and God’s power and mercy, of the House of Israel and of divine promises to Father Abraham. She celebrates God’s exaltation of the humble and poor, and rejoices, “He hath filled the hungry with good things.

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reading

Reading the New Testament: Introduction (Week 0)

A person whose heart and mind — today, on a given topic — are thorny ground may be excellent soil on another topic or on another day. In some cases that day may be far in the future, but God is patient, and we can be patient too.

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Short Take: Skipped Are the Words of Isaiah?

I recently baked some fresh Alaska salmon. It practically melted in my mouth. I almost didn’t need teeth. But I…

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Short Take: Parallel Experiences

In 1 Nephi 1 Lehi’s experience resembles Joseph Smith’s later experience with visions and the gold plates (see Joseph Smith…

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Short Take: “The Lamb . . . Shall Feed Them”

Sometimes, when reading the Revelation of John, we come across gems which don’t require us to decode a lot of…

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Short Take: Paul, Agrippa, Grace

Paul tells King Agrippa what he did at Jerusalem and elsewhere: “Many of the saints did I shut up in…

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Short Take: “And Lifted Him Up”

“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple . . . And a certain man lame from his…

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All Faith, Religion, and Scripture Articles
Reuben Harold Babcock - He Was Something

He Was Something: A Tribute

bright star in night sky - christmas reflections

“A Light to Lighten the Gentiles”: Christmas Reflections

cross at sunset - celebrate Easter

Ten Ways to Celebrate Easter (Alone or Together)

creche - Nativity scene - Christmas Reminds Me

Christmas Reminds Me

Raphael’s Sistine Madonna, My Two Favorite Authors, and Mother’s Day

Abide with Me

“I triumph still, if Thou abide with Me” (a reflection)

Christmas

Two Kinds of Christmas, Both Good (an essay)

thou-lord-poem

Thou, Lord (a poem)

Mount Timpanogos Temple

For Latter-day Saints, the Temple Is for Life Outside the Temple (an essay)

faith amid doubt

Faith Amid Doubt (an essay)

Carl Bloch - Jesus Turning Water to Wine

Reading the New Testament (Week 6)

Reading the New Testament (Week 5)

Reading the New Testament (Week 4)

reading scripture

Reading the New Testament (Week 3)

King James Version LDS edition footnotes

Reading the New Testament (Week 2)

Reading the New Testament (Week 1)

reading

Reading the New Testament: Introduction (Week 0)

“Fit Us for Heaven” (Thoughts on a Christmas Afternoon)

Welcome to Utah sign

Neighbors, Strangers, Pilgrims, Friends

Easter flowers

One Savior, Four Gifts (Easter Thoughts)

Lorenzo Snow

Lorenzo Snow on Leadership (Sometimes the Lesson Is for Me)

autumn leaves

Thanksgiving Thoughts

wagon

Circle the Wagons? Or Leaven the Loaf?

waiting for dawn

Of Light, When We Cannot See It

“Every Good Thing”

Short Take: Skipped Are the Words of Isaiah?

Simply Good Books

Reading in Transit: Jana Riess and Julie Schumacher

Short Take: Parallel Experiences

Tokens of Thanks

Short Take: “The Lamb . . . Shall Feed Them”

Short Take: Paul, Agrippa, Grace

General Conference and My Obedience

Short Take: “And Lifted Him Up”

My Bishop Shoes

Short Take: More Than a Sower

Lenten Reflections

good Samaritan

Short Take: One Parable, Six Roles — Good Samaritan

daily bread

Short Take: “Our Daily Bread” – The Source of All Life

Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower

Short Take: Shepherds and Lambs

Is It Too Late to Think (or Read) About Christmas?

Short Take: Huldah the Prophetess

Thankful Reflections on an Interesting Year

Short Take: “There Shall Be Showers of Blessing”

Most of It Comes Down to This

Building Our Refuge

Short Take: “Fear Not, I Am with Thee”

Marilynne Robinson: “As if People Were Less than God Made Them”

A Gem from General Conference: Divine Aid

What Mormons Mean: Translating General Conference (into English)


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About Me

I’m a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I won’t complain if you use the nickname Mormon. By my definition (not everyone’s) I’m a Christian. Whatever you call yourself, you’re welcome here. I write to explain and inspire, if I can; to discuss and explore — not to proselyte.

My writings are sometimes apologetic, in the sense of reasoned argument justifying or defending my faith by explaining it. But I make no apologies (in the conventional sense) for having faith, for having a faith, or for presuming to discuss and ponder.

A Bit More Chatter

“Faith without works is dead,” James said. I’ll buy that. Here are some other postulates:

  • Faith without brain cells is mostly dead, too, but probably doesn’t know it.
  • Yesterday’s faith is of little use today.
  • Faith and action are not contradictory concepts.
  • Thinking and believing are not mutually hostile activities. They are the most natural and necessary partners in the universe.
  • Sometimes Latter-day Saints (Mormons) need to be translated, before what they do or say makes much sense to other people, even other believers. I do some of that here.

Favorite Links

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: I am in no way or degree an official spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or its leaders. They don’t tell me what to write. They don’t tell me what not to write. I’ll take credit for any errors here. If you find any truth here and care to give proper credit, please aim it far, far above my pay grade, where it belongs.


From the Author

David Rodeback

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